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"Is this really a movie that people in Hiroshima can bear to watch?" Oppenheimer’s Japan Release Triggers Online Discussion in the Country

The Oscar-winning biopic that features the 1945 bombing of Hiroshima as a plot point has recently been released in Japan. By: Kritchanon Tan Kian Wei

Japan - After a lengthy delay from its July 2023 worldwide release, Oppenheimer, the Oscar-winning biopic about the creation of the atomic bomb and its subsequent usage in places like Hiroshima, was recently released in Japan on March 29, sparking much discussion in the country.

On March 25, Kyoka Heya, president of Hiroshima’s international film festival, commented on Oppenheimer: “Is this really a movie that people in Hiroshima can bear to watch?” In 1945, the United States deployed two atomic bombs in Japan, brutally killing around 140,000 in Hiroshima and 74,000 in Nagasaki.

Presumably a precaution to avoid further controversy, the film’s poster in Japan is unique, as it removes the atomic bomb found in the key art of Oppenheimer used worldwide. Though the film does not directly depict the Japan bombings, Oppenheimer was delayed in Japan due to its potential to stir up anger among Japanese citizens. The “Barbenheimer” and nuclear bomb memes that followed the simultaneous release of Barbie and Oppenheimer worldwide caused lots of criticism from people in Japan, who were upset that countless netizens were making fun of a devastating event.

However, Japanese distributor Bitters End eventually decided to bring the film to Japan, stating in December 2023:

“The decision was made following months of thoughtful dialogue associated with the subject matter and acknowledging the particular sensitivity for us Japanese. After screening the film, we feel Christopher Nolan has created a singular cinematic experience that transcends traditional storytelling and must be seen on the big screen. We invite the audience to watch the film with their own eyes when it comes to Japan.”

Despite the potential controversy and Japan’s pricy movie ticket costs, the move seems to have paid off, as many IMAX theatres in the country quickly filled up after tickets went on sale.

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